Lucille S.
New Member
Greetings.
I have a Western Pottery (1995 - the year this condo building was built) toilet. Polybutylene has been piped throughout the entire unit. Couple weeks ago there appeared to be the sound of running water coming from the toilet, although it could be an internal leak and not from the toilet itself. I wanted to change the flapper and fill valve. I watched plenty of YouTube videos on how to change a fill valve. Unfortunately in my building, the shut off valve is at the central manifold; there is no shut off valve or stainless steel braided supply line going from the wall to the toilet.
After purchasing toilet flapper and Fluidmaster Fill Valve (400CARS - concerned about whether it would fit toilet tank so I got the specialty valve kit), I installed the toilet flapper just fine, but after spending 2+ hours with a pair of pliers and an Allied handy wrench (maximum 1"), I was not able to get the grey supply line (polybutylene) off from the white lock nut that was holding the fill valve. See pictures. After reading and discussing with family across the country, I'm guessing that I should have purchased a couple of channel lock pliers - one for inside the tank to hold the fill valve into place and the other to use for the turning of the grey supply valve (which now has plenty of shavings as I tried my hardest to turn counterclockwise). It will not budge. I don't have a problem with purchasing a pair of channel locks. Any suggestions on which channel locks? I kept thinking while I was trying to turn the grey supply line at the top that what I really needed was a hacksaw to saw off the current fill valve pipe which has a thin thread between the grey supply valve which I can't twist off and the white lock nut. Any suggestions on hacksaws that will cut plastic fill valve (I'm assuming that it's plastic) piping? Which one should I get? My concern is that because of the polybutylene piping, I am unsure of whether it is a male thread or female thread that is up at top. I wouldn't want to cut off polybutylene (it is in the white fill valve piping?) as I do not have the expertise on how to put it back together again. I've been reading about SharkBite -- PB to PEX -- but it is all very fuzzy to me. I still think that I can do the fill valve replacement on my own and not have to call a plumber. Any ideas on how to take the top grey hexagonal piece off without completely breaking it? Thank you in advance for any ideas or suggestions.
I have a Western Pottery (1995 - the year this condo building was built) toilet. Polybutylene has been piped throughout the entire unit. Couple weeks ago there appeared to be the sound of running water coming from the toilet, although it could be an internal leak and not from the toilet itself. I wanted to change the flapper and fill valve. I watched plenty of YouTube videos on how to change a fill valve. Unfortunately in my building, the shut off valve is at the central manifold; there is no shut off valve or stainless steel braided supply line going from the wall to the toilet.
After purchasing toilet flapper and Fluidmaster Fill Valve (400CARS - concerned about whether it would fit toilet tank so I got the specialty valve kit), I installed the toilet flapper just fine, but after spending 2+ hours with a pair of pliers and an Allied handy wrench (maximum 1"), I was not able to get the grey supply line (polybutylene) off from the white lock nut that was holding the fill valve. See pictures. After reading and discussing with family across the country, I'm guessing that I should have purchased a couple of channel lock pliers - one for inside the tank to hold the fill valve into place and the other to use for the turning of the grey supply valve (which now has plenty of shavings as I tried my hardest to turn counterclockwise). It will not budge. I don't have a problem with purchasing a pair of channel locks. Any suggestions on which channel locks? I kept thinking while I was trying to turn the grey supply line at the top that what I really needed was a hacksaw to saw off the current fill valve pipe which has a thin thread between the grey supply valve which I can't twist off and the white lock nut. Any suggestions on hacksaws that will cut plastic fill valve (I'm assuming that it's plastic) piping? Which one should I get? My concern is that because of the polybutylene piping, I am unsure of whether it is a male thread or female thread that is up at top. I wouldn't want to cut off polybutylene (it is in the white fill valve piping?) as I do not have the expertise on how to put it back together again. I've been reading about SharkBite -- PB to PEX -- but it is all very fuzzy to me. I still think that I can do the fill valve replacement on my own and not have to call a plumber. Any ideas on how to take the top grey hexagonal piece off without completely breaking it? Thank you in advance for any ideas or suggestions.
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